After successfully defending the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Goldberg, retiring the veteran at July’s Saturday Night’s Main Event, a gauntlet match was then booked to determine the new number one contender for SummerSlam. The WWE Universe finally had the chance to see Gunther, The Ring General, face a true challenger after months of disappointing booking. Management is once again using him as a prop, instead of shining the spotlight on the gold at their feet.
The most notable start of the pitiful booking was this year’s WrestleMania. Gunther dropped the workhorse championship to the spot-monkey sports entertainer, Jey Uso. After realizing what a mistake it was to waste minutes of TV time weekly on an entrance, they decided to drop the strap back on the Austrian. It felt like fans were finally seeing the title go back to what Seth Rollins made it to be, a workhorse championship.
The one street light on Gunther’s WWE path dimmed as his next opponent was determined. Pulling on the heartstrings of marks worldwide, they decided to waste his talent on a celebrity opponent. The kids were excited, but old-school wrestling fans cringed as they continued to use him as a prop.
The nonsense continued when Goldberg stepped forward for a retirement match. There was no need for a deep story in their minds, or even a prior match for the challenger. It’s illogical why WWE bowed to someone who has contributed so little. Outside of an overblown, talentless winning streak in WCW, he has done nothing for the business. It’s possible to give the man his curtain match without a title shot, or at least book some intriguing buildup.
There was a four-person gauntlet match to determine the number one contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. In order of appearance, Bron Breakker, Penta, LA Knight, and CM Punk were in the match. Three deserving superstars and a washed-up veteran who bashed the company for years, only to convince them to offer a new deal.
Punk was the final participant and went on to win the match. There is a reason he was the final entrant, the same reason he was near the end of the Elimination Chamber and Royal Rumble: He lacks the fitness of today’s superstar. Nonetheless, WWE has shown an unwillingness or inability to elevate new talents.
Being the professional he is, Gunther will elevate and carry the match with Punk. It’s time to bring the belt back to its previous glory, when it had actual wrestlers putting on entertaining matches. The championship is now a cheap trick to promote celebrities and veterans.
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